The 1989 Archive Project is a multidisciplinary production by Tiny Little Cosmos that seeks to bridge the gap between historical broadcast artifacts and contemporary immersive art. Led by Director Deepthi Welaratna and Composer Jon Bernstein (Disparition), the project centers on two primary works: the ambient-electronic album 1989 and the experimental film installation Wood.
Artistic Vision:
The project utilizes a "Cosmic Maximalist" aesthetic to explore the sensory experience of political rupture. By isolating and layering legacy 576i SD video and audio from the Romanian Revolution, we treat archival decay—the "glitch" and "snow" of analog signals—not as a technical flaw, but as a metaphor for the fragility of collective memory. Bernstein’s score utilizes period-accurate hardware, specifically the Yamaha DX11, to create a sonic architecture that mirrors the cold, crystalline digital landscape of the late 1980s.
The Problem & The Process:
Independent artists face immense legal and financial barriers when working with historical media. Much of the 1989 broadcast record is held by state entities (TVR) or international syndicates, or exists as "orphan works" with no identifiable creator. This project is a dedicated effort to navigate these hurdles. We are undertaking a rigorous "rights and permissions" phase to identify, document, and clear these assets for institutional display. This "forensic" approach ensures that these crucial pieces of history are not lost to the "dark archive" but are instead preserved through artistic intervention.
Public Impact & Presentation:
Funded activities will support the technical upscaling of archival materials and the legal framework required for public exhibition. We are targeting a 2026–2027 exhibition window at major Los Angeles institutions, including The Getty and LACMA, alongside a digital release of the 1989 album and a process journal documenting our archival findings.
Operational Excellence:
Grounded in strategic design management methodologies, the project is structured to transition smoothly from research to public exhibition. By securing fiscal sponsorship, we can formalize our grant-seeking efforts (CAC and NEH) and ensure that this "sensory history" reaches a broad public audience, fostering dialogue on how media shapes our understanding of revolution and democracy.
Learn More: https://tinylittlecosmos.co